Hugo Lloris: We feared defeat in Marseille but showed great personality to win

Hugo Lloris believes Tottenham showed great personality in their victory against Marseille, even though he conceded his side feared losing in the second half.

Spurs won 2-1 on the night to progress to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League despite going a goal down in the first half after a header from Chancel Mbemba on the stroke of half-time.

Defender Clement Lenglet equalised for Spurs in the second half before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg struck in the 95th minute to secure the north London side’s fate. 

The result means Spurs finish top of group D and speaking after the game, captain Lloris admitted his team showed character to pick up the result. 

He said to BT Sport: “To be honest, we expected that type of game. It was a very difficult place to deal with and I think we showed great personality.

“In the second half we had a good game and Clement Lenglet scored an important goal in France in front of the French people and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is so important to confirm that top of the group.

“It was a tough night, a great battle and even more psychological battle because we could feel in the first half a team was playing without the fear to lose, it was Marseille, and in the second half we had a team that was fearing to lose and it was us.

“Also I believe that when we had to face difficulties, we showed great personality and it’s a great result.

“Without our coach it was even more difficult for him in the stand and it’s a great winning team – that’s the most important thing.”

Defender Lenglet, 27, also believed the team showed much more personality in the second period of the game. 

“We didn’t play well in the first half,” he added.

“We didn’t know what happened, if we have to attack, if we have to defend. Maybe it wasn’t good for us to play this type of first half.

“But after the first half we speak in the locker room, (and say) what we have to tell and we start the second half with a lot more power, much more personality to go to score and we play a very very good second half.”

Spurs are next in action against Liverpool this Sunday in the Premier League.

GO DEEPER

Champions League permutations: What’s left to settle?

(Photo: Getty Images)